Wellness Software Reduces Depression

Posted on July 30, 2009 in Health & Medicine, Technology

Developers of the newest trend in software want to make you happy. The online, interactive program targets teens to make sure they’re eating right, exercising and taking care of their general well being.

A start-up company called Thrive Research teamed with Stanford’s Laboratory for the Study of Behavioral Medicine in order to test the software on high school students and Stanford freshmen. Students significantly reduced their feelings of depression after using the program, which tracks progress in areas like mood and social connections. The program is tailored to each individual, based on a series of questions about health. During one online session per week, students report behavioral changes and receive coaching on how to deal with stress.

The program encourages students to question their negative thoughts and replace them with a more positive and realistic perspective. In order to find strategies for coping with emotions, teens can consult an online message board where an anonymous discussion is taking place.

The final product will be released in early August. Thrive Research intends to sell the software to public and private schools as part of a wellness curriculum. The start-up hopes to curtail the growing number of students experiencing depression, one log-in at a time.